The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 2 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private — John Shaqi
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 2 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 2 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
_Head._ It would have been happy for you if my diagrams and crotchets
had gotten you to sleep on that day, as you are pleased to say they
eternally do. My visit to Legrand and Motinos had public utility for its
object. A market is to be built in Richmond. What a commodious plan is
that of Legrand and Motinos; especially, if we put on it the noble dome
of the Halle aux bleds. If such a bridge as they showed us can be thrown
across the Schuylkill, at Philadelphia, the floating bridges taken up,
and the navigation of that river opened, what a copious resource will be
added, of wood and provisions, to warm and feed the poor of that city?
While I was occupied with these objects, you were dilating with your
new acquaintances, and contriving how to prevent a separation from them.
Every soul of you had an engagement for the day. Yet all these were to
be sacrificed, that you might dine together. Lying messengers were to be
despatched into every quarter of the city, with apologies for your breach
of engagement. You, particularly, had the effrontery to send word to the
Dutchess Danville, that on the moment we were setting out to dine with her,
despatches came to hand, which required immediate attention. You wanted
me to invent a more ingenious excuse; but I knew you were getting into a
scrape, and I would have nothing to do with it. Well; after dinner to St.
Cloud, from St. Cloud to Ruggieri's, from Ruggieri's to Krumfoltz; and
if the day had been as long as a Lapland summer day, you would still have
contrived means among you to have filled it.
_Heart._ Oh! my dear friend, how you have revived me by recalling to my
mind the transactions of that day! How well I remember them all, and that,
when I came home at night, and looked back to the morning, it seemed to
have been a month agone. Go on, then, like a kind comforter, and paint to
me the day we went to St. Germains. How beautiful was every object! the
Port de Reuilly, the hills along the Seine, the rainbows of the machine of
Marly, the terrace of St. Germains, the chateaux, the gardens, the statues
of Marly, the pavillon of Lucienne. Recollect, too, Madrid, Bagatelle,
the King's garden, the Dessert. How grand the idea excited by the remains
of such a column. The spiral staircase, too, was beautiful. Every moment
was filled with something agreeable. The wheels of time moved on with a
rapidity, of which those of our carriage gave but a faint idea. And yet,
in the evening, when one took a retrospect of the day, what a mass of
happiness had we travelled over! Retrace all those scenes to me, my good
companion, and I will forgive the unkindness with which you were chiding
me. The day we went to St. Germains was a little too warm, I think; was it
not?
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